June 19, 2006
Lausanne and around
Last Friday before my departure I conducted some last-minute internet research on 'things to do around Lausanne when there's thunder in the Alps'. Via the Swiss birding website ornitho.ch, I found out about a breeding colony of Bee-eaters (Guepier d'Europe) in a quarry in the neighbouring town of Penthaz. The local birders have worked hard to ensure the welfare of the birds (by putting police tape and explanatory signs around the quarry) while also providing garden chairs at a viewing platform - great job! The Bee-eaters gave fantastic views in flight and perched during my visit.
This one seemed to have a penchant for Golden-ringed Dragonflies!
Other birds giving good views here included Black Kite (Milan noir), Turtle Dove (Tourterelle des bois) and Sand Martins (Hirondelle de rivage). A Roe Deer came in to drink in the quarry base....
... and this Marbled Fritillary was another butterfly lifer.
Back in Lausanne, I took an evening stroll to the Chateau Saint-Maire in the old town.
The Lonely Planet waxed lyrical about its 'haughty turrets' - I was more impressed by the crippling views of the Alpine Swifts (Martinet a ventre blanc) which nest and roost there.
Next day we took the ferry across Lake Geneva to the French spa town of Evian-les-bains.
The lakeshore enabled some close encounters with waterfowl including Eurasian Coot (Foulque macroule - US birders take note of the shape of the facial shield)
some cute Mute Swan (Cygne tubercule) cygnets
and a gaudy male Red-crested Pochard (Nette rousse).
I also came across this bizarre-looking female Blackbird (Merle noir). The head and breast sides were ash-grey, and the bird had a white throat with pronounced streaking and malar stripes. Is this within the normal range of variation for female Blackbirds, or could it be a hybrid (kind of resembles a Fieldfare from the neck up)?
The rest of the day was spent birding, sunbathing and swimming (brrr!) from a pedalo in Lausanne Harbour - Black Kite (Milan noir), Yellow-legged Gull (Goeland leucophee) and a pair of Goosander (Harle bievre) being the avian highlights.
